Locking handle

ABSTRACT

AN INTERGRAL LOCKING HANDLE WHICH MAY BE ATTACHED TO A PANEL OR LIKE MEMBER WITHOUT THE NEED FOR SCREWS, PINS OR THE LIKE. THE HANDLE IS ATTACHED THROUGH A SLOT IN THE PANEL, AND BIASING MEANS YIELDABLY MAINTAINS A LOCKING MEMBER   IN ENGAGEMENT WITH A COMPLEMENTARY MEMBER OF A SUPPORTING CABINET OR THE LIKE.

Nov. 23, 1971 H. RoLuNs, JR 3,621,510

LOCKING HANDLE Filed July 29, 1970 |6 |8 F IG 2 32 34 F i G. 4

'6 his FIG.5

24 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. V 24 HENRY RO'LL/NS, .m. l2 Q 30 BY Zj KgZ/wE'W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,621,510 LOCKING HANDLE Henry Rollins, Jr., Dallas, Tex., assignor to Collins Radio Company, Dallas, Tex. Filed July 29, 1970, Ser. No. 59,264

Int. Cl. A47b 95/02 US. Cl. 16-114 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An integral locking handle which may be attached to a panel or like member without the need for screws, pins or the like. The handle is attached through a slot in the panel, and biasing means yieldably maintains a locking member in engagement with a complementary member of a supporting cabinet or the like.

This invention relates generally to looking handles, and more particularly to such handles that are especially useful in electronic modules, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Todays complex electronic systems are being designed, built and interfaced on a subsystem basis whereby the subsystems may be contained in a modular package. Such packages typically are removably mounted in larger cabinets which provide system interconnect. One advantage of this design is the relative ease in removing and/or replacing subsystems needing maintenance servicing.

The modules are provided with locking handles for inserting and locking the modules in the supporting cabinets. conventionally, these handles are of multiple piece construction, relatively expensive, and time consuming to attach.

An object of the present invention is an improved panel and locking handle combination.

Another object of the invention is a locking handle which is integral in construction, economical, and easily attached to a mounting member.

Yet another object of the invention is an integral locking handle which is injection moldable.

The integral locking handle in accordance with the present invention is designed for attachment to a mounting member without the need for screws, pins, or the like. Briefly, the handle includes a portion which may be grasped by a human operator for inserting or removing the attached member, a portion for slidably attaching the handle to the attached member, biasing means for yieldably maintaining the handle in a locked position, and a latch member for locking the handle to a complementary means on a support member. In a preferred embodiment, the handle is designed to mount in a rectangular slot on a panel. The attaching portion includes spaced, parallel, flexible flanges which extend through the slot of the panel and attach thereto. The biasing means includes a flexible cantilever member which engages a portion of the slot thereby maintaining the latch member in a locked position. To open or remove the panel, the handle is unlocked by slidably moving the handle in opposition to the bias means and parallel to the panel thereby disengaging the latch member.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims when taken with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a handle in accordance with the present invention and a panel member to which the handle may be attached;

FIG. 2 is a side view partially in section of a handle, attached panel, and a portion of a support member;

FIG. 3 is a side view partially in section similar to FIG. 2 in which the handle is moved to an unlocked position;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the handle in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a front view of the handle which further illustrates the biasing means, locking member, and attaching members.

Like elements in the several views have the same reference numerals.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a locking handle shown generally at 10 in accordance with the present invention and a panel 12 with which the handle is employed in combination. Handle 10 includes a portion 14 which may be grasped for inserting or removing the panel from a supporting cabinet or the like. Parallel, flexible flanges 16 and 18 extend from portion 14 and provide an attachment mechanism which, when inserted through rectangular slot 20 in panel 12, slidably attach handle 10 to the panel 12. A biasing means in the form of a flexible, cantilever leaf spring 22 yieldably maintains lock member 24 of the handle in a locked position when panel 12 is mounted on the supporting cabinet.

The handle is easily attached to panel 12 by flexing the two parallel flanges 16 and 18 inwardly and inserting the flanges through rectangular slot 20. In so doing, a biasing member 22 must also be flexed downwardly for insertion in slot 20. When the flexible flanges 16 and 18 are fully inserted in slot 20 the flanges spring outwardly and teeth thereof grasp the back surface of panel 12 thereby slidably attaching the handle to the panel.

FIG. 2 is a side view of handle 10 mounted to panel 12 and in a locked position with a complementary locking portion 30 on a support cabinet thereby aflixing panel 12 to the support cabinet. In this view, it is seen that flexible, cantilever biasing member 22 maintains latch member 24- in locking engagement with member 30.

To unlock handle 10 and remove panel 12 from the supporting cabinet, handle 10* is slidably moved upward, as shown in FIG. 3. It is seen that flexible cantilever biasing means 22 is flexed downwardly by the sliding movement of handle 10 while latch member 24 is disengaged from complementary latch member 30 of the supporting cabinet. In this position the panel may be removed from the supporting cabinet.

To further illustrate a preferred embodiment of the locking handle, FIG. 4 is a top view of the handle shown in FIGS. 1-3. In this view it is seen that the parallel flange members 16 and 18 are provided with retaining lips 32 and 34 which engage the back surface of an attaching panel. The flexible cantilever bias member 18 extends outwardly from the grasping portion 14 a suflicient distance to engage the upper surface of the slotted panel. It will be noted that bias member 18 is preferably wider than the spacing between flanges 16 and 18, thus allowing flanges 16 and 18 to function as an anti-overstress means and thereby preventing the overstressing of cantilever member 18. Latch member 24 extends outwardly from the bottom of handle portion 1-4.

FIG. 5 is a view looking into handle 10 and further illustrates the relative positions of the leaf spring 18 at the top of the handle, locking member 24 at the bottom of the handle, and the parallel flexible flanges 16 and 18 lying intermediate the leaf spring and the lock member.

Locking handles in accordance with the present invention have proved to be economical in cost as well as in use as the design lends itself to an integral plastic construction formed by means of injection molding. While the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, the description is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a panel and support cabinet, an integral locking handle comprising a grasping portion for hand manipulation, a pair of flexible, spaced flanges including lips for latching to said panel, a locking member for engaging a complementary member on said cabinet, and flexible, cantilevered leaf spring biasing means for yieldably maintaining said locking member in engagement with said complementary member, said leaf spring being wider than the spacing of said spaced flanges whereby said flanges provide anti-overstress relief for said leaf spring.

2. An integral locking handle for self-attaching to a panel comprising a body portion for hand operation, a pair of flexible, spaced flanges extending from said body portion for inserting through a slot in the panel and including lips for latching to said panel, a locking member extending from said body portion at one end of said flanges, and biasing means extending from said body portion at the other end of said flanges for actuating said locking member.

3. Anintegral locking handle for self-attaching to a panel as defined by claim 2 wherein said biasing means comprises a flexible, cantilevered leaf spring.

4. An integral locking handle for self-attaching to a panel as defined by claim 3 wherein said leaf spring is wider than the spacing of said spaced flanges whereby said flanges provide anti-overstress relief for said leaf spring.

5. In combination, a panel including a rectangularly shaped slot therein, a self-attaching, integral locking handle, said handle including a body portion for hand operation, a pair of flexible, spaced flanges extending from said body portion and through said slot, a locking lip on each of said flanges engaging the back surface of said panel-and slidably attaching said handle to said panel, a locking member extending from said body portion at one end of said flanges and through said slot for engagement with a complementary member on a support means, and biasing means extending from said body portion at the other end of said flanges and into said slot for yieldably maintaining said locking member in engagement with the complementary member.

6. The combination defined by claim 5 wherein said biasing means comprises a flexible, cantilevered leaf spring.

7. The combination defined by claim 6 wherein said leaf spring is wider than the spacing of said spaced flanges whereby said flanges provide anti-overstress relief for said leaf spring.

8. The combination defined by claim 5 wherein said panel includes two rectangularly shaped slots and includ-' ing two said self-attaching handles inserted in said slots.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,044,105 7/1962 Wigemark 16-114 R 3,447,850 6/1969 Samson 31232O X 64,116 4/1867 Lewis 3892 118,311 8/1871 Weida 38-92 2,478,247 8/1949 Conley 161 14 X JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 16-125; 312--32O 

